Base Diseño e Innovación is a bilingual academic journal established in 2014 by the School of Design at the Universidad del Desarrollo. Its mission is to highlight the transformative role of design in driving innovation processes that enhance quality of life while creating social, economic, and cultural value. The journal fosters interdisciplinary academic dialogue and connects key stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil organizations, along with professionals and scholars across all design fields. It aims to spotlight emerging areas of design development and promote global collaboration among researchers. By providing open, immediate, and free access to its content, the journal contributes to the democratization of knowledge and the exchange of ideas worldwide.
Fontibón, a district of Bogotá, accounts for 15% of the city's fixed sources of pollution, causing respiratory, cardiac, and mental health problems among its population. This problem is related to rapid urbanization and heavy truck traffic on Calle 13, which has drastically reduced green spaces and damaged the Meandro del Say wetland. In response to this situation, the project proposes an interdisciplinary methodology that combines design, biology, and community participation through territory-sensitive research, stratigraphic analysis, and co-creation. As a result, BIO-VASC has been developed, a support system inspired by biodesign and biomimicry that seeks to activate a symbiotic relationship between the community and the wetland, promoting collective appropriation and strengthening territorial resilience. This research demonstrates that biodesign, in order to be sustainable, must be constructed from a dialogue situated within the spatial practices of the context.
Copyright (c) 2026 Base Diseño e Innovación https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Bio-Agglomerated Panels from Forest Waste
This research describes the process of designing, developing, and validating bio-agglomerated panels made from capsules of Eucalyptus globulus Labill, an invasive species with a high environmental impact in Chile. The study is primarily positioned as applied research aimed at the development and technical validation of a biomaterial, carried out in the context of a thesis project guided over the course of an academic year and developed through research and close collaboration between students and teachers. Its purpose was to explore the technical and sustainable feasibility of transforming forest waste into a functional material, using design methodologies focused on material experimentation and the circular economy. The research was structured according to the Material Driven Design (MDD) and Territory-Based Biomaterials (BBT) approaches, integrating stages of territorial diagnosis, characterization of the raw material, formulation and manufacture of mixtures, application of physical-mechanical tests, and analysis of results. The panels obtained reached an average density of 0.82 g/cm³, water absorption of 6.3%, and tensile strength of 11.4 MPa, demonstrating structural stability and low permeability. The technical and material results obtained place the bio-agglomerate within the range of low-density lignocellulosic materials with potential applications in interior design. Beyond the technical results, the work recognizes the educational context in which the research was developed, without this dimension constituting an object of study in itself, demonstrating that undergraduate academic practice can contribute to the generation of applied knowledge in sustainable design.
Development of a Repairable Dermal Layer for Venipuncture Phantoms
This article presents the results of an interdisciplinary project between the School of Design and the School of Nursing, both at the University of Chile. The project seeks to develop a biodegradable and repairable skin-like material for use in venipuncture phantoms. To this end, a material similar to human skin was developed with a hydrocolloid matrix rich in calcium carbonate. Four formulations were defined with the selected hydrocolloid binder, varying the percentages of each component and organic load. To characterize the materials, their density and moisture content were evaluated, as well as their repairability. Subsequently, the perception of users (nursing students and teachers) was tested. After testing the material, it was used in the phantom developed for the University of Chile School of Nursing, thus verifying the user's perception of the complete phantom. This testing was carried out in a real teaching experience and consisted of venipuncture simulation rotations. The results of the verification showed that the developed dermal layer is even more similar to human skin than the current practice with rubber silicone, in addition to being repairable by dilution with water and biodegradable.
Today's challenges cannot be solved by a single discipline; transdisciplinary collaboration is essential to address complex issues from integrated approaches. This requires cooperation among disciplines and the incorporation of non-academic actors, transcending the traditional boundaries of knowledge. At the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the University of Los Andes, the area of biodesign has established itself as a space where students and professors from different areas face challenges related to the construction and validation of knowledge, student conditions, and the methodological dynamics of classes. This article analyzes transdisciplinary collaborations aimed at innovation based on a case study of three biodesign courses. Through interviews, observations, and a review of teaching materials, the main tensions and lessons learned from working together were identified. The research answers the question: how can the dynamics of collaboration between teachers and students be strengthened so that the diversity of perspectives contributes to genuine cooperation? As a result, a set of analytical and diagnostic tools was developed that allows teachers to recognize progress, stagnation, and opportunities for improvement in their practices in order to adjust their methodologies and continue promoting collaboration and transdisciplinary learning.
This study investigates how undergraduate design studios function as research environments that cultivate inquiry-based learning and knowledge production through making. A key problem addressed is the disparity between recognized research in STEM fields and the undervaluation of research-through-design within interior architecture education. The central research question asks: How does the design studio facilitate research as a form of inquiry in undergraduate interior architecture curricula? Participants included senior-level students engaged in capstone studio projects emphasizing iterative design prototyping and contextual analysis as applied to an intensive year-long project. Results indicate that students demonstrate higher levels of critical inquiry and self-directed research when engaged in approaches of iterative making and reflection. This allowed for the transformation of spatial problems into evidence-based design propositions that still employed creativity and feasibility. These findings suggest that undergraduate design education can indeed be more widely recognized as a legitimate site of scholarly research.
Creative and Collaborative Thinking Through Hands-On Manual Paper Recycling in Design Education
The advancement of environmental challenges and the need for creative solutions make education a fundamental element in the development of innovative minds and creative thinkers capable of analysing and proposing solutions to complex problems. This article explores manual paper recycling as an initiative that combines environmental awareness and artisanal processes as tools for the development of creative skills and adaptive thinking. Through the Action Research methodology and a case study in three collaborative workshops, we seek to understand how practical experimentation with recycled paper fosters innovation and adaptive and flexible thinking in different training contexts. During the activities, participants experiment with pulp manipulation techniques, moulds and pigments, achieving close contact with traditional materials and techniques. The results indicate that manual experimentation generated creative and unique solutions, such as the reinterpretation of colonial icons and the exploration of textures. Preliminary findings show that workshops are spaces with great potential for developing cognitive flexibility and fostering collaboration. These are fundamental aspects for training professionals and citizens who are adaptable to contemporary challenges, demonstrating the pedagogical impact of this initiative.
Undergraduate education and cultural transfer
This article analyzes the role of undergraduate education in legitimizing design research and its social impact, based on a Final Degree Project in graphic design (FDP). The case studied is the project Marcas con fundamento (Brands with substance), defended at the University of La Laguna in 2023, which focuses on the historiographical study of Canarian graphic brands. Methodologically, the project adopted a mixed approach—historiographical, qualitative, and project-based—articulated as research through design and organized into five phases, with a sample of 30 graphic brands. The results enabled the identification of patterns of visual evolution, the creation of a graphic archive, and the development of various cultural transfer products, including a publication, a website, an educational game, and a public exhibition. The conclusions show that the FDP can operate as an applied research laboratory, integrating theory and practice, strengthening territorial identity, and democratizing visual culture. Based on this case, a replicable model of university-society transfer applicable to educational and cultural contexts is proposed.
Bacterial Bioluminescence and Biophilic Design
Disconnection from nature is one of the main challenges of contemporary urban living, with negative effects on emotional and cognitive health. This study, carried out as part of a degree project in Design at the University of Chile, explored bacterial bioluminescence as an innovative resource in biophilic design, aimed at promoting emotional well-being in urban contexts. An experimental prototype was developed based on the ethical cultivation of Photobacterium, designed according to principles of biomimicry and biocollaboration. Validation was carried out through non-participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and emotional assessment surveys, complemented by electroencephalography (Emotiv Epoc EEG) and the PrEmo scale. The results showed that interaction with bioluminescence generated responses of awe, fascination, and calm, linked to processes of restorative contemplation, along with a sustained increase in levels of attention and relaxation. The integration of bacterial bioluminescence into the design not only offers an aesthetic and sustainable alternative, but also a sensory medium capable of mediating emotional and symbolic links with nature. This work also validates project-based research as a legitimate way to generate new knowledge that can be published under current academic standards.
Editorial. Design and Longevity: New Perspectives, and Challenges
Longevity is becoming a defining characteristic of contemporary societies, reshaping how the discipline of design creates products, services, and environments. As global life expectancy increases, there is a growing need to move beyond traditional age-focused approaches and embrace longevity as an opportunity for innovation. This special issue explores the intersections of design, longevity, and sustainability, examining how human-centered and systemic design approaches can enhance well-being, autonomy, and social participation. It shows the role of design in creating adaptable solutions that support individuals across different life stages, foster intergenerational connections, and promote sustainable practices. This issue aims to inspire new meaningful perspectives on how design can contribute to a more inclusive and resilient future, rethinking longevity as a dynamic and experience-rich phase of life.
Copyright (c) 2025 Base Diseño e Innovación https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The fashion industry exemplifies unsustainable production and consumption, generating severe ecological damage and perpetuating exploitative labor practices. Recent global analyses estimate that the sector contributes nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, disposes of a truckload of textiles every second through landfilling or incineration, and recycles less than 1% of discarded garments into new clothing. These alarming figures underscore the urgency of rethinking how future designers and researchers are educated. Higher education institutions, particularly design schools, are positioned to prepare graduates who can navigate the intertwined challenges of sustainability and social justice. This paper proposes that undergraduate research in sustainable fashion, when structured as a community-centered practice, provides a powerful pedagogy for cultivating socially responsible design researchers. Drawing on sustainable fashion studies, participatory and co-design traditions, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), and design justice, it develops a five-phase framework—Engagement, Exploration, Empathy, Experimentation, and Evolution. Each phase specifies inputs, competencies, outputs, and measurable social outcomes, moving beyond abstract ideals to actionable pedagogy. A mini-case and a 14-week semester map demonstrate classroom integration. By positioning communities as equal partners, the framework challenges extractive models of design research while aligning with global sustainability agendas, including the SDGs and circular economy.
Editorial: Disruptive sustainability: society, innovation and futures
Copyright (c) 2024 Base Diseño e Innovación https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Innovative Longevity Design through Boundary Object Integration
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW77372038 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Abstract" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"db3a1198-8739-4d83-ad29-2785808409fd|154","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"22",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"SimSun",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman,SimSun",469775450,"Abstract",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Abstract",335572020,"1",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559739,"300",335559738,"360",134233279,"true",469775498,"Keywords",469778324,"Normal"]}">This descriptive study explores how Longevity Planning Blocks (LPBs) can serve as boundary objects to facilitate conversations and identify user needs in service design, thereby advancing the understanding of Design for Longevity (D4L) within financial planning, service innovation, and system design. Using constructivist grounded theory, we analyzed 69 one-hour in-person D4L service experiments with participants in Boston, USA, categorized by age: adulthood (25-54), pre-retirement (55-64), and post-retirement (65-84), with controls for gender balance, annual household income, savings, and investable assets. We identified six key considerations to improve the design of LPBs—adaptability, tangibility, modularity, learnability, unpredictability, and scalability—based on six emerging themes as core codes and 11 codes, which include understanding individuals’ needs, fostering point-to-talk behavior, presenting dynamic life stages dependent on individual preferences, incorporating unique lived experiences, prioritizing preparation over planning, and positioning a longevity coach as a continuous touchpoint for financial wellbeing, acting as a financial therapist. These insights highlight the value and challenges of using tangible artifacts as boundary objects to enhance D4L design and development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Base Diseño e Innovación https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
From industry through policymaking to academia, much prevailing sustainability discourse focusses on transitioning to a so-called ‘Net Zero future’. Central to this vision is mitigation of human-driven climate change through the decarbonisation of industrial society, principally via increased innovation and adoption of emergent technologies. This paper argues Design Research must pivot from these reductive, solutionist narratives, and develop a disruptive yet inclusive approach towards designing for Net Zero. In response to the complexity of climate change, this paper proposes a novel conceptual frame that helps designer-practitioners to challenge the unsustainable technocentric status quo. Built upon a confluence of Speculative, Participatory and More-than-Human-Centred methods, the paper outlines how this approach can stimulate close collaboration between designers and stakeholder networks. The paper asserts that, through this scaffold, designer-practitioners can reimagine responsible technological Net Zero futures which are inherently More-than-Human, that is, sustainable and equitable for our planet’s human and non-human stakeholders alike.
This article examines the historical influence of the design discipline on population well-being, addressing emerging challenges associated with global demographic ageing from various paradigms in recent decades and proposing inclusive criteria in changing scenarios. Longevity, or the length of time someone lives, is currently a socio-politically significant issue. Advances in knowledge, health technology, and improvements in quality of life have contributed to the increase in life expectancy. This exploratory, descriptive historiographic study aims to define the concepts involved by referencing specific case studies. In the context of design, global ageing necessitates a revaluation of our preconceived notions of 'old age' and the adoption of functional inclusion criteria, ranging from formal and spatial to technological and digital. This recognises the growing number of users and guarantees the future needs of an ageing population that wishes to maintain its self-sufficiency and independence and continue to contribute to the workforce for many years to come.
Tackling reflexivity in human-centred design research to benefit user needs and sensitivities
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW252205436 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Abstract" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"fe0017e7-5150-5d7c-ac64-5f509ec11579|1","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",335559705,"2057",201342446,"1",201342447,"5",201342448,"1",201342449,"1",201341986,"1",268442635,"22",469775450,"Abstract",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Abstract",335572020,"1",335551547,"2057",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",335559739,"300",335559738,"360",134233279,"true",469775498,"Keywords",469778324,"Normal"]}">Longevity research highlights complexities of assessing the elderly’s future needs and impact of design solutions. Especially, the potential for (self-) transformation within human relations or interactions through design work (e.g., through technology) highlights the importance of design (researchers) being more aware of their design decisions and research impact and finding ways to discuss their application of reflexivity; standards of practices still lacking in research communities. This paper presents a ‘work-in-progress’ reflexivity-method for conducting front-end user experience research with participants characterised by highly diverse user needs and sensitivities. During a PhD project, this method evolved from grounded research and four case studies with 120 mixed-gender pre-schoolers, 2.5—6-years, at a kindergarten. The goal was to improve a researcher’s reflexivity when developing activities, tools, and environments by prioritising context-based discovery of relational, emotional, and social vulnerabilities impacting user well-being. Video and audio materials indicate that a researcher’s reflexivity concerning sensitivities and paradigm awareness are beneficial design strategies to encourage motivation, expression skills, and mastery. This paper offers a dialogue tool for practising precise reflexivity. Its innovative framework may spark discussions on how child-centred methods can inform reflexive standards, practices, and the impact of designing for vulnerable adult groups, such as the elderly.
What do you mean? Exploring Interdisciplinary Frictions when Designing for Longevity
With a projected global population of 2.1 billion individuals aged 60 and older by 2050, there is an imperative to explore the implications of living longer and how to design solutions that support individuals’ well-being and promote independence. In this context, interdisciplinary collaborations, by bringing together different forms of expertise, can provide creative and effective solutions. However, the complexities of working in synergy with others are rarely discussed. Drawing from our experiences as early academic researchers, we delve into the nuances of interdisciplinary design research for an ageing population. Through autoethnographic dialogues between the authors and semi-structured interviews with professionals from various disciplines, we uncover and discuss frictions inherent in interdisciplinary collaborations. Our findings reveal tensions surrounding data interpretation, ontological and epistemological beliefs, evaluation of project outcomes, and ethical considerations. We propose an initial framework to navigate these frictions constructively, fostering dialogue and understanding among team members. By prioritising lived experiences and reflexivity, our work contributes practical insights for interdisciplinary collaboration in designing for longevity, offering a lens into the complexities and opportunities of navigating disciplinary boundaries.
Editorial: A New Green Bauhaus from the Global South
Older People’s Experience of Autonomy with Durable Products
This article discusses the importance of promoting autonomy in the design of products for older individuals. The aim was to better understand the autonomy experience of older people with durable products. This research utilizes a qualitative approach to study the experience in-depth and employed six instruments, including interviews, questionnaires, and a UX curve method, interaction qualities, the psychological needs it fulfills, and the emotions elicited through the product to investigate why and how a product, owned by the participant, promotes autonomy. Fourteen Mexican women over the age of 60, without cognitive impairment, Spanish-speaking and not affiliated with the design discipline, took part in the study. The results provide a detailed description of the characteristics of products that promote autonomy, the interaction properties involved, and the elements that structure the autonomy experience. The study identified an alignment between intrinsic motivations and the activity carried out with the product, ease of interaction, and excellent product performance as components of the experience. The experience of autonomy is pleasant and enhances well-being.
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW208851795 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="None" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"71d541c2-f7d5-467b-9d41-44218304d872|31","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"None",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"None",335572020,"1",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Arial Unicode MS",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman,Arial Unicode MS"]}">Starting from the reckless exploitation of soil as a resource at humans’ disposal, this research highlights the role of the textile industry in regard to the soil and voices the urgency to explore practices of restoration through a regenerative material approach. From circular economy to regenerative agriculture, design has the power and responsibility to exercise its impactful role in influencing a general mindshift within the industry and to sketch out ‘preferable scenarios,’ both through speculative and practical actions. This paper surveys the literature on practices and methodologies that concern the soil ecosystem. Drawing the lines between soil-agriculture-textile, the investigation proposes to look at the soil-origin of textiles and to practice natural circular ways through clothes-composting. Ultimately it is a reflection on the potential of a soil-centric textile industry in which waste does not exist as such but it rather turns into new ‘food’ pursuing its natural cyclicity and regenerating the ecosystem. <span class="EOP SCXW208851795 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559685":720,"335559737":567,"335559738":360,"335559739":300,"335559740":360,"335572071":0,"335572072":0,"335572073":0,"335572075":0,"335572076":0,"335572077":0,"335572079":0,"335572080":0,"335572081":0,"335572083":0,"335572084":0,"335572085":0,"335572087":0,"335572088":0,"335572089":0,"469789798":"nil","469789802":"nil","469789806":"nil","469789810":"nil","469789814":"nil"}">
Sustainable design: from the ethics of consumption to the ethics of production
The controversial concept of ethical consumption has been profusely associated with design practice in recent decades. However, on many occasions, its implementation is assumed as beneficial in the definition of all kinds of design projects without considering the nuances and/or considerations regarding its social, cultural, and productive implications. This paper seeks to help remedy the uncritical adoption of ethical consumption in design practice. To achieve this objective, we performed a multidisciplinary bibliographic discussion that exposes valuable background information to generate an argued position regarding ethical consumption and its link with the logic of sustainable design. The results derived from the analysis of the existing literature suggest an early positioning of the designer's participation in the design process. Finally, some possible ways of disciplinary confrontation of the environmental crisis that could generate higher levels of innovation are proposed.
Croí: A Process for Core and Responsible Graphic Communication Design Education
Research has shown that addressing personal values and conviction is crucial for long-lasting Education for Sustainable Development. However, there is a shortage of theory and evidence-based value-focused processes in Graphic Communication Design Education literature. This article presents a novel personal value thinking and doing process called Croí (pronounced Cree) that can be used as a precursor to Education for Sustainable Development in Graphic Communication Design Education. Croí aims to stimulate sustainable transitions by disrupting behaviour development. Over five years, five rounds of Action Research were conducted with third-level educators and students to explore how Croí could facilitate value (or core) design, with the broad aim to encourage sustainable Graphic Communication Design. The initial Croí prototype developed over Cycles One and Two is briefly summarised, with focus on Cycles Three, Four, and Five, where Croí was further developed and evaluated. Data collection included researcher field notes, semi-structured interviews, and written reflections, analysed through Thematic Analysis. Key discussion points include fundamental process elements, Croí's impact on core thinking and doing and responsible thinking and doing, and its potential to facilitate behaviour development. The research concludes that Croí promotes core and responsible thinking and core doing, increasing the likelihood of responsible doing. It offers educators an innovative way to facilitate plural, practical, and core development for graphic communication design students, potentially influencing change in the profession. Croí is not a panacea for the complex issue of Sustainable Development, but it provides a novel and meaningful foundation for disrupting behaviour.
Management of cooperation networks for sustainability
Sustainability requires the sharing of knowledge, resources and capacities. Cooperation Networks (CN) are essential to promote strategies and approaches that respond to socio-environmental challenges in various territories, particularly in emerging countries. However, CN management is complex, and literature on this matter is scarce. This article identifies and explores CN management practices for sustainability. We studied the Latin American Network for Frugal Innovation (RELIF), which promotes Frugal Innovation as a design approach to sustainability in Latin America. A qualitative methodology was used based on interviews with the Coordinating Committee and thematic analysis. Several effective practices were detected, such as active collaboration, strategic alignment and efficient resource management. We also identified challenges regarding a sound strategic plan and defining an appropriate legal form. These findings are valuable lessons for similar initiatives and provide opportunities to strengthen CN management practices. Future research is recommended to explore appropriate legal structures and develop CN strategies to disseminate sustainability approaches.
Struggling for Design for the Pluriverse in the Global North
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW251540476 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Keywords" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"de54ea9d-1da8-4a28-b7a0-97106fe4560a|171","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"22",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",335559704,"1025",335559705,"2057",335551547,"2057",469775450,"Keywords",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Keywords",335572020,"1",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559739,"240",335559738,"240",469775498,"Paragraph",469778324,"Normal"]}">This article explores the difficulties of conducting pluriversal design in the Global North. The point of departure is Arturo Escobar’s discussion on design for the pluriverse, which is a critique of modernity and unsustainability. The analysis centers on a project to develop a game to uncover the unsustainability integral to modern commerce, in the form of value chains of products produced in the Global South and consumed in the Global North. The researchers follow and document their experience with the development of the game aimed at sensitizing school students in the Global North to the injustices, resource overuse, and violence integral to value chains. The analysis describes how the intention to apply pluriversal design principles risks being betrayed by the same designers committed to them, because of their embeddedness in modernity. The authors propose two concrete strategies: first, recognizing that activating pluriversal principles will create discomfort in the designers and the design process; second, developing a vision to activate pluriversal principles.
Feral design aims to act as a transformative framework for design in the Anthropocene. This paper explores its potential to navigate the crises of modernity through a speculative deconstruction of three discrete case studies. Analysing said case studies of counter-culture movements’ operating at the fringes of the law reveals valuable insights into creativity, adaptability, and diffuse design capacity. The essence of feral design has been distilled into five principles, aiming to establish design methodologies. It calls for broader engagement from design researchers to expand the discourse and advance design practices in the Anthropocene. Feral design aims to act as a redirective practice that subverts modern design practice to enable its transition towards sustainment. By understanding the values embodied by different feral entities that respond to the collapse of traditional systems we can better understand how the principles of feral design can be embodied.
Innovation in Mexico's forest communities for life sustainability
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158478193 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Keywords" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"8204fed7-7f05-4c75-97e7-87a05399a659|23","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"22",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",335559704,"1025",335559705,"2057",335551547,"10",469775450,"Keywords",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Keywords",335572020,"1",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559739,"240",335559738,"240",469775498,"Paragraph",469778324,"Normal"]}">Biodiverse ecosystems play an essential role in the planet's environmental health by generating the processes necessary for our survival. This article focuses on their importance as a source of resources for the communities that depend on them directly. It also underscores the role of design when it co-participates in guiding innovation processes that contribute to preserving local biodiversity and maintaining our planet's socio-environmental balance. The article reports on empirical research with the participation of fifteen communities involved in timber and non-timber forest appropriation-harvesting activities in Mexico. The study identified the perceptual and symbolic aspects of innovation that drive innovation at the local level. These can be improved through collaborative design. By supporting communities in improving how they use, transform, and market their non-timber forest resources, they can achieve sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the battle against climate change and environmental protection.
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW7113192 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Abstract" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"63d9e89f-ef98-478c-857b-c608c2e924db|158","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[268442635,"22",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469769226,"Times New Roman",335559704,"1025",335559705,"2057",335551547,"2057",469775450,"Abstract",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Abstract",335572020,"1",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559739,"300",335559738,"360",134233279,"true",469775498,"Keywords",469778324,"Normal"]}">Electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste, is a health and environmental hazard that affects many people and ecosystems around the world. As the volume of e-waste continues to surge, it is imperative this issue is addressed. Contributing to this situation is the Internet of Things (IoT); an expanding industry deploying countless smart devices globally. Prolonging the lifespan of already-deployed devices through acts of repair can help to reduce the impact of IoT on climate change. A sustainable design and innovation approach to addressing this growing problem is to challenge conventional design practices focused on consumption by prioritising community repairability in design. This paper uses an ethnographic and interview approach to explore the challenges of repairing smart devices within community repair contexts. We discuss the impact of fail-fast approaches and the assumptions that repairers hold about the repairability of smart devices. Our findings demonstrate how repair café processes cause smart devices to be filtered out, thereby identifying barriers that designers and repair café organisers must navigate to successfully incorporate the repair of smart products into these settings.
This article communicates project research1 and its subsequent development2 at the School of Architecture, Design and Urbanism of Universidad de la República. The school's architectural programme includes a care and reintegration centre for people in street situations in Montevideo, Uruguay. The study aims to think about new ways of inhabiting the city sustainably and equitably. The methods employed are mapping, interviews, surveys, and literature reviews. The project investigates the relationship between homelessness and the problem of voids in consolidated and served areas of cities. As a result, a project is developed to decant and verify the operability of the research, proposing a sustainable and disruptive solution to both problems by intensifying the territory and avoiding processes of social gentrification.
Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy contributions to emancipatory design
In the quest to overcome the oppression caused by the capitalist modern/colonial world system, we propose the approach still under construction of emancipatory design, based on Paulo Freires’s critical pedagogy. If hegemonic design reinforces oppressive relations through antidialogical practices and cultural invasion, emancipatory design seeks to fight against them through dialog and cultural synthesis of different voices. Throughout the text, invasion and cultural synthesis are defined and examples are analyzed from the author’s experience with design in partnership with social movements in southern Brazil.
Sustainability and innovation design challenges in the SMEs of the Biobío Region
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW134532660 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Keywords" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"5d54086e-b8a8-43a1-aaef-53c6e29d22af|22","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"Keywords",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Keywords",335572020,"1",268442635,"22",335551547,"13322",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559740,"480",201341983,"0",335559739,"240",335559738,"240",469775498,"Paragraph",469778324,"Normal",469778325,"[\"Subject codes\"]"]}">This qualitative study explored the application of sustainable design and innovation approaches in SMEs in the Biobío Region through semi-structured interviews. Advances and gaps were identified in the design and innovation ecosystem and in adopting sustainable design. Despite progress in supply and demand for design, there are still challenges, such as a lack of awareness of its benefits, low valuation, and the perception of design as an accessory attribute. To be part of a new global Bauhaus, the region must strengthen its design ecosystem, invest in research and development, promote collaboration between designers and companies, improve infrastructure, and establish specific support policies and funding. These efforts can boost SMEs' innovation, competitiveness, and responsibility and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Revalue sartorial culture for a circular economy
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW216517948 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Abstract" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"515df681-dd59-4a97-b998-c4db954dd9bf|231","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"Abstract",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"Abstract",335572020,"1",268442635,"22",335551547,"3082",335559685,"720",335559737,"567",335559740,"360",201341983,"0",335559739,"300",335559738,"360",134233279,"true",469775498,"Keywords",469778324,"Normal"]}">This study raises the role that sartorial culture can play in slowing the impact of environmental pollution caused by the fashion industry. The objective is to transform design education with an ecological interdisciplinary pedagogy. The methodology focuses on reviewing and analysing the existing literature on the topic, examining proposals from experts and sectoral institutional contributions. The results highlight the importance of a circular approach in fashion, encouraging reuse, recycling, and extending the useful life of garments. Within the framework of a New Bauhaus – arising from the South-South – the aim is to promote conscious and sustainable fashion that integrates aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability under a drive towards circularity, social inclusion, and fair trade, where Fashion businesses make their footprint transparent. It is proposed to revalue the art of tailoring, sewing techniques and the craft, combining them with technology that allows maintaining quality and innovating in the design and production process in such a way that a search for synergy between science, technique, art and service within a circular economy, where the protagonists reflect on the manufacturing processes and the negative impact of excessive consumption that significantly affects the environment.